Summer is meant to be spent outdoors, relaxing poolside, or enjoying a classic barbecue with the family. When the sun is shining and there is not a cloud in sight, beyond relaxing, there is only one thing dominating our minds: The summer heat. As temperatures soar into the 80s and 90s, finding ways to escape the hot weather can be difficult. With the right gear, staying cool can be a breeze.
Lifestyle expert Bahar Takhtehchian stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share some editor-loved products to help you stay cool in extreme heat. From quick-drying clothing to an at-home ice cream machine, these cooling products will surely provide instant relief during and after days under the sun.
Keep reading to discover our favorite summer essentials to beat the heat and stay cool.
Best cooling products as seen on the 3rd hour of TODAY
Columbia Freezer Collection
“Staying cool in the summer requires strategic dressing. These Freezer tees and dresses from Columbia’s Freezer Collection are perfect for everyday wear during hot summer days, and keeps you stylish while doing so!” emphasizes Takhtehchian. “The super breathable fabric in all three of these styles features Columbia’s Omni-Freeze technology, which can help you feel cool and dry faster, thanks to a quick moisture-wicking process.”
One Shop TODAY team favorite from the collection is the PFG Freezer III Dress because of how it performs. Outside of the Omni-Freeze technology, the dress features UPF 50 sun protection, a flattering A-line silhouette and comfortable tailoring.
Mission cooling headwear
“Protective headgear is a must during the summertime,” emphasizes Takhtehchian. “We love the brand Mission for their lineup of headwear that works hard to block the sun, while also cooling you off with water-activated technology.”
Some of our favorites from the brand include their cooling bucket hat, headband, and visor, with most claiming to cool by up to 30 degrees below average body temperature when activated with water. Depending on the headgear, you can even wear it on its own or underneath a hat for extra cooling.
Applying ice on your skin offers an array of benefits, including depuffing, refreshing and calming red, stressed skin. Skim Gym’s CyroRoll Ice Roller is designed to offer a mess-free, cooling massage at home by simply filling it with water and popping it in the freezer.
At first glance, you wouldn’t expect this fruit-inspired crossbody bag to have a hidden feature inside. The bag’s spacious body is fully insulated to keep food and drinks cool for a long time. They’re also leak-resistant and easy to clean, according to the brand.
Warm weather can affect the quality of fresh food. So to prep for summer picnics or BBQs, this covered charcuterie board comes with a detachable ice pack slot and a secure lid, so you can worry less while you’re hosting.
When it comes to beating the heat, cool, sweet treats come to mind. The Dash Soft Serve Ice Cream Machine makes a tasty, frozen treat right at home in just 35 minutes.
“Best of all? You can use your own ingredients and customize the flavors as you please; great for making protein mixes or keeping sugar low!” shares Takhtehchian. “Just freeze the Inner Bowl for 24 to 48 hours, add your chilled ingredients, and get churning with one touch.” According to the brand, you can also make sorbet, fruit whips and frozen yogurt with the same machine.
More products to stay cool
Whether you’re a runner or not, this cooling neck wrap is a quick way to cool down post-activity. It has a dedicated ice pouch that stores ice for a long period of time.
Water shoes are perfect for boating, other water activities or anytime you’re in need of waterproof shoes for summer. Coming in a wide variety of colors and sizes to suit different styles, these water shoes from Amazon are designed for comfortable wear for men and women.
Whether you’re hitting theme parks, hiking, or just spending a lot of time outdoors this summer, this cooling towel will provide instant relief. According to the brand, the PVA material absorbs water and provides a cooling effect; all you have to do is rinse and repeat for lasting cooling benefits.
“During the testing period, the towel kept me cool for at least an hour, even when walking outside in the heat,” wrote commerce writer Jannely Espinal in her review. “It’s not long enough to wrap around the neck, but it feels soothing when completely wet.”
Bearwind Portable Handheld Turbo Fan
If you’re really looking for a way to beat the heat, this find takes handheld fans to the next level. It’s perfect for spending time outdoors and will last up to 12 hours, offering up to three times more strength than standard handheld fans.
This portable cooler completely collapses to save space when you’re traveling. It’s perfect for beach days, pool parties, or even for tailgating at sports games since it can be brought anywhere.
Take your outdoor lounging game to the next level with this recliner. With three different positions, you can sit comfortably with your feet up, all while or lie completely back. The chair comes with two cup holders, a storage pocket, an adjustable backrest and more.
If you have leather seats in your car, you know how painful it can be to sit down when it is hot outside. Luckily, this cooling car seat cushion can save the day and keep your seats cool. The cushion offers its own temperature control so you can set it according to your personal preferences or the weather outside.
Sprinklers are a go-to when looking for ways to cool off in the summer heat, and these huge inflatable sprinklers make it even more fun. From a 9-foot-tall giraffe to purple apes and unicorns, these inflatable sprinklers will be a hit at any birthday, pool party, BBQ, or backyard hangout. All you have to do to set it up is inflate it and connect a standard garden hose.
Ice cream and warm weather go hand in hand, so why not bring your favorite flavors to go in this ice cream storage container? This stainless-steel container will keep your ice cream frozen for up to four hours and holds up to two quarts. Use this container year-round, too, for hot foods such as soup. This set comes with a tilt-up ice cream scooper, which makes ice cream scooping a breeze so you can get the perfect scoop every time.
In just seconds, you can chill coffee, wine, spirits and countless other beverages with this best-selling chiller. Say goodbye to ice cubes watering down your drinks and hello to ice coffee made simple. This device includes a series of stainless steel chambers within a larger plastic container, so you simply pour water into the chambers, put it in the freezer overnight and voila, you have a chilled drink in 60 seconds.
If you are hot, odds are so is your dog. With this cooling vest, you can help keep your pup cool and looking adorable. Add water to initiate the evaporative cooling effect to begin the cool-down process. The mesh layers in the vest allow for circulation and is adjustable so you can find the perfect fit for your furry friend.
Meet the expert
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Bahar Taktehchian.
- Bahar Takhtehchian is a lifestyle and beauty expert who formerly stopped by the show to highlight multitasking cleaning items, travel products and more.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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